A Kaldi’s location will open in Bauer in the spring. (Rachel Benitez-Borrego | Staff Photographer)

A new Kaldi’s Coffee location, located at Bauer Brew in Bauer Hall, will begin serving students at the start of the spring semester. It will be the fifth Kaldi’s on WashU’s campuses, but the first on the Danforth Campus.

The Kaldi’s will replace the previous coffee bar at Bauer Brew, which served COMA coffee. Raven Lumpkins, Director of Marketing and Communications for University Services, stated that the Kaldi’s will address an immediate need for a coffee provider in Bauer Hall.

“[We] were looking for a coffee provider that could seamlessly fit into the Bauer Hall space and serve the WashU community,” Lumpkins said. “Kaldi’s was a natural fit given their strong local presence and existing relationship with the University.”

Hours of operation will be determined at a later date once campus activity and location needs are assessed. 

“In the meantime, they’ll host pop-up events in late October to introduce their products to students ahead of the official opening outside of the Bauer Brew space,” Lumpkins said. “Kaldi’s will provide tastings and samplings of the menu they plan to offer in the Bauer location.”

WashU currently has four Kaldi’s locations on the medical campus, and there are two additional Kaldi’s within walking distance of the Danforth campus. 

First-year Meital Atlas looks forward to the new Kaldis’ arrival. 

“It’ll be nice to have another cafe option beside [Cafe] Bergson,” Atlas said. “And also, it’s really close. I feel like all of the cafes are on the East End.”

“The new Kaldi’s Coffee location in Bauer Hall will feature a thoughtfully curated menu that showcases Kaldi’s artisan coffee and espresso drinks, as well as an array of teas, smoothies, cold beverages, and freshly baked pastries,” Lumpkins said. “A limited selection of food items will also be available.”

The Kaldi’s will not accept meal points, but it will accept Bear Bucks, credit cards, and debit cards as payment. However, Lumpkins stated in an email that dining services “will continue to review opportunities for future integration.”

Student Life spoke to a few students who are excited by the prospect of the Kaldi’s but expressed concerns. One such student is sophomore Joon Kang, who enjoyed the Starbucks that used to occupy Bauer Hall. 

“I think [the] Bauer location is good,” Kang said. “But if they don’t accept meal points, I might not go as much as other places.”

Kaldi’s Coffee is a Midwest coffee chain founded in the DeMun neighborhood, whose original location is half a mile from the Danforth campus. It was rated as the United States’ best coffee chain by USA Today in 2024.

First-year Rachel Goldstone is excited by the prospect of eating a prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich at a Kaldi’s on campus.

“During move-in weekend, I trekked all the way over to the [DeMun] one in the 95-degree heat,” Volstead said. “I was not stopping for anything.”